Dale Watson & The Texas Two in “The Sun Sessions”
Dale Watson has a brand new album coming out on October 11th, and like the name implies, it was recorded in the historic Sun Studios of Memphis, TN. Dale pairs up with the small rhythm section of drummer Mike Bernal and Chris Crepps on upright bass to imbibe his 14 original tracks with the classic Johnny Cash vibe that was originally captured at Sun in the mid-1950’s by Johnny and his “Tennessee Two”.
This isn’t the first time Dale has used an historic place to inspire his music, or Johnny Cash as the muse. His 2007 album From The Cradle To The Grave was recorded in a cabin formerly owned by The Man in Black, and loaned to Dale by Jackass star Johnny Knoxville. The 14 selections of The Sun Sessions go by quick in the half hour album, with many of the songs reviving the classic Cash “tic-tak” sound, and clocking in under 2 minutes. It also includes two re-recorded Dale originals, “Johnny at the Door” from his 1999 album People I’ve Known, Places I’ve Been, and “Elbow Grease, Spackle And Pine- Sol”, a Sun Sessions spin on the song “Holes in the Wall” from Dale’s first ever album in 1995 Cheatin’ Heart Attack.
The Sun Sessions is being released through Red House Records, and is already available in the UK and parts of Europe, and in the US as an import. Samples can be heard on the Amazon UK site for the album, and three complete songs can be heard through Continental Record Services on bandcamp. The video for “My Baby Makes Me Gravy” can be seen below (must watch till the end!).
September 25, 2011 @ 12:41 pm
Wow, man! Can’t wait to get it. That video is a riot.
September 25, 2011 @ 3:43 pm
Lol. I like Dale’s voice and his faithfulness to the real country sound. His voice reminds me of gravy. 🙂
September 25, 2011 @ 5:32 pm
Looking forward to this one!
September 26, 2011 @ 3:19 am
boom chicka..! digging the gravy song, and i know he alludes to the fact that after eating there’s gonna be some wild times..but seriously…after that much gravy, he’s gonna be immobile. really good in the headphones this morning..thanks for reviewing.
September 26, 2011 @ 7:44 am
haha its good to see he’s got a great sense of humor. i’ll make sure this one is on my list to buy.
September 27, 2011 @ 1:10 am
Love me some Dale Watson, and own almost all of his albums. I can’t get into the goth country stuff or the punk infused country too much. I pretty much like the traditional sounds of people like Dale Watson, James Hand, Wayne Hancock, Lucky Tubb, Hellbound Glory, and Whitey Morgan. Those guys are all different, but at the same time they all have their own sound. The dark country or goth country is just not my cup of tea. I don’t think I could picture Dale Watson listening to some Goddamn Gallows. Thanks for keeping it real Dale, and I’ll see you soon at the Continental Club!
September 27, 2011 @ 1:18 pm
I need to listen to more of Watson – but I am loving the video. It makes me think it should be played alongside the Band of Heathen’s song “Cornbread.” BOH are more roots rock than country, but I imagine some folks hereabouts might enjoy them. Really, though, it was just the sexual innuendo and southern food that mades me laugh and link the two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4ptVzTbuPY
September 29, 2011 @ 12:22 pm
When Dale Watson records in the SUN-studios, he is a man with a mission, wanting to keep real country music alive. And that’s when he is at his best.
It’s notthe first time he recorded there. He made a cd called “Dalevis”, must have been late 90s, or early 2000, and I think it never really got released. As far as I know he made 1000 copies or so, with the original Sun-Studios logo on the disc, only a thin paper cover, with just the song-titels and no further information. Dale gave it to me personally, after I did an interview for the radio-show I had back then, the only time he played in my town, on his many visits to Holland.
Sure would like to see him again, he still sounds fresh!
October 1, 2011 @ 4:53 am
Dale Watson is my hero and i got all the cd:s except “The Little Darlin’ Sessions”. I cant wait until i got this one. Very funny at the end of the video, i laughed so much when i saw it first time.
His music makes me happy and i listen to him every day. I can’t think be without him. Dale’s voice and music is so cool !